Day 10- ´Get in the Chopper´

Friday Jan.29th 2010
The alarm went off at 7am as we slowly started to wake up. We decided to get in line for our chopper ride out of AC, and the earlier the better chance of leaving today. Packing up, i sadly said goodbye to our open free conference of a hotel room, where i tried to gather up as much garbage before leave. The place was filled with mattresses, clothes, brown paper bags our free snack lunches came in.

We walked up to the trainstation, to find it filled with people already. By 8am, we were waiting at the end of the line, with people quickly filling in behind us. I knew this was going to be a long day, so i sat down and started writing in my book. We decided that we could leave 2 by 2 to go get our free breakfast. I let the other boys go, and by the time I was about to go, people started walking through the line, with a bread roll and a cup of hot chocolate/coffee drink.

The line slowly started to move forward and we got closer to the entrance gate into the train station. I finally noticed that there were two lines formed, parellel to each other. The one we were in was for tourists only. The other line was peruvians, most likely locals. All the tourists, had priority over any peruvians except the elderly or sick. I felt bad that i was walking ahead of all these other people.

Around 11, we finally made it into the gate where they handed us a plastic bag filled with more junk food, and led us to a train car. Above us was a fence where local peruvians, most likely the poor that wasnt gong to leave, were standing watching us aboard the trains. People started handing them some food that we were just given. I threw up a couple of items as well, since i probably wasnt going to eat it anyway. Then onto the train car where we had to cram in with all our luggage and sit and wait. The train was full of garbage wrappers and empty water bottles, same as we were given. People had slept on the train cars the night before to be the first ones out of here.

An hour later, we were let off the train and were led to get into another line. We walked past a resort that was in connection to the train station. This was a nice place, with rooms with a fireplace and big beds with lots of pillows. A spa, an outdor tea room, whatever else possible. We waited in this new line for the rest of the way up to the front.

Around 1pm, we woman came around asking people where they were from. When we told her the U.S. she shreked in joy and said áh, one of mine!´ She was another US embassy ambassador. We had to write down our names, again, as she told us a little about what was going on with the choppers. Apparently, they were supposed to be running every 5-7 minutes, but for some reason it was taking a lot longer. By this point, i was hungry, and was happy to have a bag of junk food. Even though, what ever i ate, only lasted about 20 minutes before i was hungry again. I realized how much, nutritous food, really supplies you with energy compared to just sugar. duh!

Up closer in the line, another guy, wearing a black US police security jacket, came to talk to us. Again, we told him we were from US and he was surprised as well. They had thought they got all the US people out. nope, we were probably the last 7 left (we picked up 2 more). Writing down our info again, he told us he thought that we would get on a chopper around 3 pm. He also said there were two landing zones, and one was for the smaller 7person choppers, then the other for the 25 person choppers. We would mostly likely go in the bigger chopper, but it was possible for is to be split up as well.

Finally at the front of the line, they counted us off and we were led down on to the train tracks to wait for the next chopper. Military police were all over, mostly just standing around. Each time a new chopper came in, people would go up to unload supplies as a new group of tourists were excorted onto the bird. It was exciting standing there, realizing that we got to get a free ride in a helicopter. As our bird came in, they told us to stay low, wear our bags on the front and quickly walk towards the chopper. I had my camera out and taking random photos as i was moving closer. Then 2 guys, thankfully grabbed my arms and lifted me up onto the steps as another guy at the top, lifted me into the chopper, keeping my head low. The we had to move to the back and tightly squeeze next to each other on either side of the chopper. So exciting!!! I was luckily sitting next to a window, so i was able to take pictures of AC as we flew over. An army guy opened the window, so i was able to stick my hand out with my camera to get better pictures. We also had an amazing view of the mountains as we were taken to Oolytaytombo where we would get a bus ride back to Cuzco.

We landed in the middle of a football arena with 2 other helicopters. We were welcomed as we got off the flight and off to the side where we had to once again write down our names. We had to check in again with another US representative and the local peruvian police. Then ushered off to load a small bus, to take us into the city center plaza where we would be put onto a larger bus. It was all so fast, and smooth. They definetly had this technique down packed. We had to wait for enough people to fill the bus, then we were off again.

The ride back to Cuzco was beautiful. We could see snow capped mountains, and lots of farm land plots. We got dropped off at a plaza in cuzco where representatives from all different nations were waiting for their people. I was the first off, and they asked me where i was from. When i told them US, they were like oh, your guy is not here. Ha. awesome! Other countries helping their people out as much as they could. Lego even got a 100 soles from his representative guy. The US told us, that once we were out of AC, they didnt have anypart in helping with travel. So The other guys, still had to find out if they can get a bus out of cuzco to catch their flights in Lima. Nice!

At least we were back! Now, walking around to find a cheap hostel, we settled in and got some food. We stopped in the Coca shop to say hi to Christo and let him know we were still alive! He had just gotten back himself from picking up his wife from Ootatambo. We quickly told him a review of our crazy story, and had completed our circle in his shop, where it all started. He was happy to see us again!

After getting some food, we all just went home. It was a long day of waiting with an awsome bonus of getting a ride in a chopper!